Let it Pour

Today is our 19th day in a row of rain. Some days it's just been a trace, but the majority of those 19 days have seen more than a fair share.

Everything is soaked. We found this tree frog on our screen door last night. Not sure where he came from or where he went, but it was neat seeing one in our own yard.

This has not been ideal water park weather for sure, but if we wait for a perfect day, we may not get to go! We went to the waterpark and to ride rides today, despite the forecast of rain and thunderstorms. The girls got several rides in and swam for a little while before it started to rain. They swam in the rain until the thunder started. While the water and rides were closed for an hour or so, we ate and rested and waited it out. After the storm passed, the girls rode more rides and swam some more. We ended up having a full day of fun at the park despite the rain. (It stormed again after we got home.) I'm only posting a couple pictures, but I love how happy the girls looked in some of the candids I got today. This is how I hope Danielle remembers her summers when she is older.

Tyler heads home tomorrow. I miss him. Between his dive trip and camp, it seems like he's been gone a very long time. I think it will be an adjustment for both kids to no longer be an only child.

Tyler, Grandma & Grandpa are sitting at the picnic table by the pool.
I wasn't stalking them. Tyler texted to tell me he was there. :)

Long Distance Waves

There is a webcam pointing at the dock where Tyler and Grandma & Grandpa leave for their dives. When I remember, I pull the site up on my phone around the times they should be coming or going and watch for them. And when they remember, they wave at me...

I haven't talked to Tyler much, but he texted tonight that the trip has gone too fast. I assume that means he's had a lot of fun.

On the Big Field

One day last week Danielle's softball team got to play on the varsity softball field at the high school. Our high school has a pretty strong baseball and softball program with multiple appearances at state playoffs. I think most of the girls, including Danielle, hope to be on the high school softball team someday. Getting the chance to play there last week was a neat experience for them. Shutting out their opponent was an added bonus.

Danielle is at 2nd.

Got the out. She's an excellent fielder.

A smile for mom before slapping hands.

Today's Pic

At the Park

After I dropped the girls off at camp yesterday, I stopped by the park to see what I could find. Someone was mowing. There was a school bus full of kids that came while I was there. Someone else wanted to chitchat with me about my camera. To sum it up, it wasn't as quiet and solitary as I like it. That pretty much ruled out seeing any wildlife, so I went for the bugs.

Mom & Dad were keeping a close eye on their nest full of babies...and all the visitors.

I was trying to capture the pollen on his antenna. The picture didn't quite turn out the way I had hoped.

Inch worm crawling along. When I disturbed the flower, he stuck straight out from the middle, like one of the leaves.

Feeling weighed down?

I originally thought this was a bullfrog tadpole because there are so many bullfrogs at this park, but it doesn't match the pictures online. I think it may be a gray treefrog tadpole. His orange tail caught my eye.

I loved the color of this bee. I wish he would have stuck around for a few more pictures.



Another Week, Another Camp

Danielle and her friend Maggie started zoo camp today. This is an all day camp and it was hot today...which made for humorous before and after pictures.

At drop off:

Shortly after leaving the parking lot:

I would consider it a successful first day!

More Rainy Day Fun

Since it rained all day Saturday, Ron wanted to spend the day in his shop, and Tyler slept most of the day because he wasn't feeling well, Danielle and I decided to work on a project she found on Pinterest. She made tie-dyed canvas shoes.

They turned out even better than we hoped and they were extremely easy, just time consuming.  Since they were so time consuming, we worked on them in two different sittings (before the park and after the park), which explains the wardrobe changes. Danielle made the shoes. I did the shoelaces and took pictures.



To do this project, you need canvas shoes, sharpie markers, rubbing alcohol, and a straw or eye dropper

Use the markers to decorate the shoes.
Be careful not to put complimentary colors next to each other or they will blend together and create brown when the alcohol is added.



Use the straw or eye dropper to drop alcohol onto the shoe. This will cause the colors to bleed together.

Let it dry

Decorating shoe #2

 

The finished product. Aren't they adorable?!!

 

The sun came out on Sunday, making it perfect for sundresses and adorable tie-dyed canvas shoes!

Father's Day & a Drop Off

 

Happy Father's Day!!



Since we had plans today, Ron spent most of yesterday doing exactly what he wanted to do - spending time in his shop. I didn't realize it until I looked at this picture, but Tyler is quickly gaining height on Ron!


We met Grandma & Grandpa around dinner time to drop Tyler off for his dive trip. He was feeling a little better overall today but a bit more congested. Hopefully by their first dive on Tuesday he'll be ready to go. Danielle has grown an inch in the past 2 months, but she still looks short compared to Tyler. By the time Tyler gets back, he will have been home 1 1/2 days out of 17 days. They might miss each other just a little.



There he goes, leaving me again. :)  I hope he has a wonderful time.

Rainy Day Fun

We enjoyed a visit from tropical storm Bill today. It rained continuously until dinnertime. Add that to the week of rain we've already had, and we are drenched! Danielle and I thought the warm, wet weather might be good for spotting tree frogs, so we grabbed our umbrellas and headed to the park.

We had to run a couple errands first, and by the time we got to the park, the rain had just stopped. We did not find any tree frogs at all this time, but we did see green frogs, leopard frogs, a snake, a brilliant orange oriole, families of little baby barn swallows piled in their nests, and lots of crawfish. I have never seen any at this park, and they were everywhere today! I only took cell phone pictures today. This is one of my favorite places to go around here, and it's even more enjoyable when Danielle goes with me.

He wanted to fight.

There's no denying we're related, is there?

Our development has never flooded in the 8 years we've been here, but there was standing water in the streets. We saw this when we tried to get home from the park. It was worse on some of the side streets. I think it's supposed to rain again tomorrow and most of the week next week. Should be interesting to see where it's all going to go.